Rotary steam-engine



(No Model.)

W. M. BYRD. ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

No. 516,729. Patented Mar. .20;V 189m4 NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN COMPANY.

UNITED STATES PATENT EErcEg WALTER M. BYRD, OF MOUNT GILEAD, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM D. CLARK AND ARCHIBALD D. CLARK, OF TROY, NORTH CAROLINA.

ROTARY STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 516,729, dated March 20, 1894.

Application led March 17, 1893. Serial No. 466,512. (No model.)

i lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to rotary steam engines; and it has for its object to provide certain improvements in engines of this character whereby the operation thereof will be rendered much more accurate and uniform.

To this end the main and primary object of the invention is to effect certain improvements over my allowed application. bearing' Serial No; 439,399, in order to provide more efficient means for the complete utilization of the head of steam, and to perfect the packing devices.

With these and many other objects in view,

which will readily appear as the nature of thek invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:-Figure l is a side elevation of a rotary steam engine constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged central vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective of the steam drum or piston partly in section. of the steam drum or piston.'

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents a suitable base on which is mounted the sectional 4casing B. The sectional casing B, is constructed in any suitable shape, and is provided with a circular` steam chamber or recess C, into one side of which enters the steam inlet D, and from which also leads the opposite exhaust E. The circular steam chamber or recess C, inside of the casing or cylinder B, is provided with an off-standing semi-circular recess F, in which is seated the semi-circular packing abutment G. The semi-circular packing abutment G, is arranged inside of the casing or cylinder B, so as to not only form a packing abutment for the steam drum as will be hereinafter described, but is so disposed as to have its ends Fig. 5 is avertical sectional view project into the steam chamber or recess C, sufficiently, so as to form between such ends an exhaust space H, always open to the exhaust E, at which point one end of the semicircular packing abutment G, terminates, as clearly shown in the drawings, so that as each bucket of the steam drum, to be described leaves vthe packing abutment, it'discharges directlyinto the exhaust. The packing abut- 6o ment G, is boredwith a steam inlet I, which is arranged in a line with the steam inlet D,

of the cylinder or casing, and is provided in one side of the inlet bore I, with ashouldered impacting recess J, the function of which will presently appear, together with that of the impacting pockets K, formed in the abutment beyond the bore I, and provided with curved wallsk, and straight shoulders lo.

Arranged to work inside of the circular 7o steam chamber or recess C, of the steam cylinder, is the steam drumor piston L. The steam drum vor piston L, is mounted on the shaft Z, concentrically arranged in the steam cylinder, and is provided with a peripheral series of indented or dippingbucketsM. The indented or dipping buckets M, of the steam drum or piston L, are inclosed at the top by the super-posed packing N. The super-posed packing N, extends circumferentially around 8o the entire steam drum andcomprises a single black of packingv material having a series of rectangular openings n, which approximate -the peripheral openings of the steam buckets,

so as to extend transverselyl between each bucket and to form side top edges therefor, thereby providing a'packing which forms au inclosing top. for the peripheral series of steam buckets. It will be readily seen from the drawings that the packing in the steam 9o drurn' is adapted to contact withl the packing abutment G, in order to form a perfectly steam tight contact, and is adapted to travel out of contact with the sides of the-steam chamber or recess beyond the ends of the abutment G.

' The steam drum or piston L, is provided on both sides thereof with the concentric outwardly projecting anges O, the outer 'of which are formed at thel edges of the drum in which too are cut the ybuckets M, and are provided with threaded perforations o, to receive the outer `ing live steam.

threaded ends of the packing adjusting bolts P, Working therethrough and bearing under the packing N, inside of each bucket. The bolts P are also threaded at their inner ends which project through the inner one of the fianges O, to receive the clamping nuts p, uforking on such inner threaded ends on both sides of said inner flange, to hold the adj usting bolts iirm in any adjusted position. A wrench square p', is formed on each of the adjusting bolts P, in the space intermediate Of the concentric flanges O, so that the bolts can be adjusted, to properly adjust the packing out onto the packing abutment, in the Steam cylinder, against Which it works.

In order to prevent the cross-escape of steam from one bucket to another, I employ the movable shoulder plugs or blocks Q, attached to the packing N, and working loosely in recesses q, formed in the drum at the shoulders of each bucket, so that as the packing is adjusted by means of the packing bolts, the said plugs or blocks will yield to the adjustment, While at the same time preventing the steam from escaping out of the buckets until the proper time. The packing N, is held in proper position, and the buckets inclosed at their sides by the circular bucket-inclosing plates R, clamped onto the outer flanges 0, by means of the bolts r, passing through the drum. The plates R, Work against the opposite side of the steam chamber or recess C, and not only serve to form a side packing, but also serve the important function ot properly retaining the packing in position andentirely closing the steam buckets. New by reference to Fig. 3, particularly, of the drawings, it will be readily seen that as the steam drum or piston is traveling inside of the steam cylinder in contact with the packing abutment, three of the buckets M are receiv In the position illustrated in Fig. 3, as the steam enters through the inlet D, it strikes the shoulders of each of the three buckets exposed, almost simultaneously. In

a direct line withl the shoulder of the rst bucket is arranged the shouldered impacting recess .I into Which the steam packs or rebounds from the rst bucket, thereby providing means for holding the rebounding steam and preventing the same from forming a back pressure on the incoming steam. The other impacting pockets K, are so disposed as to receive the steam deiiected orimpacted by striking the next two succeeding buckets, and combined with the first impacting recess J, form efficient means for the complete utilization of all the steam and to prevent back pressure. After leaving the last of the impacting pockets K, the steam is housed in one bucket until the exhaust E, is reached.

Arranged on the base A, at opposite sides of the casing or cylinder B, are the bearing brackets S, provided at their upper ends with the recesses s,at each side of which are arranged the lugs s', from which arise the opposite pairs of threaded Shanks or bolts T.

The threaded shanks or bolts T, arranged in opposite pairs at each side ot' the bearing brackets S, loosely receive the vertically adjustable box plate t, having perforated corners working over said bolts and a central groove t', in which is seated the rectangular bearing box U. The bearing box U, is held in position on the plate t, by means of the opposite retaining plates u, fitting over said bolts, and said plate and the bearing box are vertically adjusted by means of the adjusting nuts V, working on the bolts above and below the plate t. The bearing box U, receives in opposite sides thereof the adjusting set screws W, which work onto the split block/w, contained within the box U, and forming a bearing for the opposite ends of the drum shaft Z, Which by means ofthe adjustments noted is properly lined up. i

lVhile I have specifically described the bearing devices or supports for the shaft Z, I lay no claim to such construction in the present application, but may subsequently apply for protection thereon.

Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction, as embraced Within the scope of the appended claims, may be resorted to Without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a rotary steam engine, the combination of a steam cylinder having a side inlet and an opposite exhaust port, such cylinder being further provided with a circular steam chamber or recess, a semi-circular packing abutment seated in one side of said chamber or recess and projecting therein, said abutment being bored to register With" the inlet and provided With a series of impacting pockets in a line with the inlet, and a steam drum or cylinder arranged to rotate Within said chamber or recess in contact With the packing abutment and provided with a peripheral series of indented buckets, substantially as set forth.

2. In a rotarysteam engine, the combination of a steam cylinder having a side inlet and an opposite exhaust port, a packing abutment seated within said cylinder at oneside and projecting therein to form an exhaust space between its ends, said abutment being provided with an inlet bore, a shouldered impacting recess in one side of said bore, and separate impacting pockets formed therein beyond the bore and provided with curved Walls and straight shoulders, and a steam drum adapted to rotate in contact with said abutment and having a peripheral series of buckets, substantially as set forth.

3. In a rotary'steam engine, the combination with the steam cylinder; of a semi-circular packing abutment removably seated in IOO IIO

steam chamber thereof, a steam drum rotating within the cylinder and having a peripheral series of indented buckets, a continuous super-posed packing ring encircling the top of the steam drum and provided with open' ings registering with the buckets, and adj usting devices for said packing, to hold the saine out onto the packing abutment, substantially as set forth.

4. In a rotary steam engine, the combination with the cylinder having a packing abutment in one side of the same; of the steam drum or piston having a peripheral series of indented buckets, and recesses formed therein at the shoulders of each bucket, a continuous packing ring extending circumferen tially around the drum and having a series of bucket openings, movable shoulder plugs orv blocks attached to the packing and Working loosely in said recesses, and adjusting devices arranged at each side of the drum to hold the packing out onto the packing abutment,sub stantially as set forth.

5. In a rotary steam engine, the combination with the cylinder; of the steam drum having a peripheral series of indented buckets, and concentric flanges projecting from opposite sides of the same, and the outer of which are provided with threaded perforations piercing the buckets, circumferential packing extending around the drum and having bucket openings, adjusting bolts threaded at both ends to pass through said concentric flanges, the outer ends ot' said bolts working through said threaded perforations onto the packing, clamping nuts working on the inner threaded ends of said bolts on both sides of the inner flange, and circular side plates clamped to 'the outermost anges, substantiallyl as set forth.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aftixed mysignature in the presence 0f two Witnesses.

WALTER M. BYRD.

Witnesses: l l

J. DILL ROBINSON, S. P. HILLIARD. 

